Agricultural Commodity Inspector I

DelDOT; Dover (DE); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The Delaware Department of Agriculture seeks a dedicated Agricultural Commodity Inspector I to inspect poultry, eggs, and fruits and vegetables in Kent and Sussex Counties, including day and night shifts. You will prepare inspection reports, issue certificates, and make final grade determinations.

Training of 160 hours is required to obtain a poultry grading license; must be authorized to work in the U.S.; reporting and record-keeping duties; interactions with federal/state agencies and plant

Qualifications

• Coursework, training, or work experience in agricultural commodities such as poultry, eggs, or fruits and vegetables.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in math such as basic operations and percentages.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in record keeping.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in applying laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in using an automated information system to enter, update, modify, delete, retrieve/inquire and report on data.
• Possession of a valid Driver's License (not suspended, revoked or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).

Responsibilities

• Inspects commodities (poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables) to ensure compliance with USDA and contractor standards.
• Grades poultry and other products considering factors like weight, finish, and defects.
• Examines eggs for weight, color, shell texture, and yolk clarity.
• Prepares and issues certifications for international and national distribution.
• Monitors food safety controls and reports issues to supervisor.
• Verifies labeling and expiration dates for compliance.
• Enforces applicable laws and coordinates grading with plant production.
• Explains and defends grade determinations and coordinates services with plant staff.
• Cooperates with federal/state agencies on inspection matters.
• Maintains relationships with plant personnel, retailers, farmers, and management.
• Uses computers to enter data and prepare reports and records.
• Provides technical information to Attorney General's Office and Inspector General's Office for cases and testimony.

Skills

Inspection

Report writing

Attention to detail

Quality control

Communication with agencies

Education

Agricultural commodities coursework

Mathematics coursework

Record-keeping coursework

Laws and regulations coursework

Automated information systems coursework

Valid Driver's License

Tools

Automated information system

Job description

Summary Statement

The Delaware Department of Agriculture is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented individual to serve as an Agricultural Commodity Inspector. Work locations will be in poultry plants throughout Kent and Sussex Counties and will include day and night shifts. This position is responsible for independently conducting inspections of agricultural commodities, specifically in the poultry industry, in accordance with federal and state standards. Duties include preparing detailed inspection reports, maintaining and issuing certificates and forms, and making final determinations on inspection outcomes. The role requires successful completion of 160 hours of training to obtain a poultry grading license.

Essential Functions

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, incumbents can complete job duties of similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Conducts inspection of commodities such as poultry, eggs, or fruits and vegetables to determine compliance with a variety of contractor or USDA standards such as grade, weight, quantity and packaging, and makes final grade determination.
• Inspects, samples, tests, and grades commodities using standard inspection techniques; grades poultry including whole birds, drum, legs, wings, breast, and boneless skinless products to include marinated products, antibiotic free claims, and organic claims; considering factors such as fleshing, finish, freedom from defects, age, weight and other conditions.
• Examines eggs for weight, color, soundness, texture of shell, absence of defects, clarity of yolk outline and clarity and firmness of albumen.
• Prepares and issues certification of products for both international and national distribution.
• Monitors food safety controls such as sanitation, processing and storage conditions; communicates issues immediately to supervisor and/or management.
• Verifies store specifications on labeling which includes expiration dates, product codes, dates for compliance, and ensures appropriate labels are applied.
• Enforces federal and state laws, rules, and regulations and resolves issues within the range of normal plant activities involving grading/inspection determinations and operating problems.
• Interprets and applies technical standards, rules, and regulations; explains and defends all grade and inspection determinations and coordinates grading services with plant production activities.
• Cooperates with federal agencies, official state organizations and agencies, and other State representatives on matters related to agricultural inspection and grading.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with plant personnel, retailers, farmers, and facility management.
• Utilizes computers to enter information and prepare a variety of reports and records such as plant production data, grading results, certificates issued and other administrative records.
• Provides technical information and assistance to representatives of the Attorney General's Office as well as the Inspector General's Office in preparing court cases and testifying.

Job Requirements

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Agricultural Commodity Inspector I Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in agricultural commodities such as poultry, eggs, or fruits and vegetables.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in math such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, or decimals.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in record keeping.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in applying laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
• Coursework, training, and/or work experience in using an automated information system to enter, update, modify, delete, retrieve/inquire and report on data.
• Possession of a valid Driver's License (not suspended, revoked or cancelled, or disqualified from driving).

Conditions of Hire

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The State of Delaware Executive Branch participates in the Federal E-Verify system where the State will provide the federal government with each new hires Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. For more information refer to our job seeker resources.

Functional Capability Evaluation: Upon a conditional offer, you must take a Functional Capability Evaluation to assess your strength and agility to meet the physical requirements of the position. All applicants must read the detailed physical requirements for this position which is located at https://statejobs.delaware.gov/explore/fce.shtml and the file is named Agricultural Commodity Inspector I-II - Agriculture - Food Products Inspector.

All new hires are required to report to the Statewide New Employee Orientation (SNEO) on their first day of employment. Sessions are held at designated locations in Kent or New Castle County.

Benefits

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. Individuals who use TDD may request auxiliary aid or service by calling [phone] or by visiting delawarerelay.com. If you need assistance with an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or general applicant support, you may call [phone] or email [e-mail]. The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.